The controversial scheme to turn Wellington’s Charlton Arms Hotel into flats is to go before planners in September, Telford & Wrekin Council announced this week.
Public anger is meanwhile continuing to grow and many councillors and civic figures have already declared their opposition to the scheme, which has been put forward by Liverpool-based developers Nextdom.
The firm is run by Aiofe O’Brien, the hotel’s current owner.
A spokesman for Telford & Wrekin told the Journal: “An individual neighbourhood consultation started on July 10 and 31 neighbours have been consulted so far. A Press Notice will be published inviting members of the public to give their comments.
“A determination date for the application has been set for September 10.”
Nextdom’s application is slightly scaled down from a previous proposal, and is for 41 new apartments - for sale on the open market - retaining the Grade 2 listed part of the 17th Century hotel, a former coaching inn.
George Evans, the life president of Wellington Civic Society, has written to the council saying the Charlton was for many years the most important hotel in Wellington.
He suggests the borough council should commission a professional historian to research the area, whose history dated back to before the 13th Century.
Mr Evans added: “The Charlton Arms was not just a pub, it was a valuable part of our community with a fine function room.
“I have been contacted by people who say Wellington needs a proper hotel, restaurant and meeting place to support its regeneration, especially with the new rail link to London,” he said.
And with the housing market in steep decline, there was no need for more homes to be built, he said.
Councillor Denis Allen, former mayor of Wellington said: “I think it is very important to have this building - which forms part of the history and culture of Wellington -Êto stay as a place for meeting and entertainment which I consider to be vital to the town.”
David Riley, president of Wellington Chamber of Commerce said: “It would be an absolute tragedy that Wellington would lose one of its most significant and long standing hotels.”
Miss O’Brien argued that there was no market in Wellington to support such a business. “We bought the Charlton Arms when it was in administration and ran it for four years but it didn’t work out.”
